Ruler of the Roost.

Ruler of the Roost 'Mere Woman' Lays Down Rigid Rules of Conduct for Vanishing Tribe of Yavapai Indians in Northern Arizona

Editor's Note:-The following material was assembled by the Arizona Federal Writers' Project.

ARIZONA has a dictator! She is Viola Jimulla, queen of the nearly extinct Yavapai Indians, who rules with an iron hand over a handful of tribesmen on the reservation near Prescott. As far as is known, Viola is the only woman in America to hold the position of tribal head.

As a stern ruler she would put some of the world's dictators to shame. She brooks no violation of the rigid laws she has established. Those who are displeased with the rules may take leave of the camp and their names will be stricken from the tribal rolls. Her records show that there have been no cases of intoxication among her tribesmen in more than four years. There are few transgressions of any sort, for Mrs. Jimulla keeps card index records of all members of her tribe, a monthly check being made on the amount of work done by each, and they are paid accordinglydeductions being made for the upkeep of the government she has established. Law violations are also recorded. Those who break state, city or county laws while off the reservation must not only face civil authorities but answer to Mrs. Jimulla. Her virtual dictatorship has brought new life to her subjects.

"All women are good bosses," she says. "Some day we shall have a woman to boss Uncle Sam."

The men work at whatever form of common labor they can find; mostly as railroad section hands and on county roads. The women make baskets, beaded articles and some pottery; of the Apache, Pima or Maricopa type.

The Yavapai perform no dances. Mrs. Jimulla being strongly Christian, opposes all pagan practices, even disapproving the white man's "Smoki Dance." The few primitive customs that prevail date only to San Carlos and Apache associations and dominance there.

The Yavapai Indians live one mile north of Prescott, in the heart of Arizona's scenic wonderland. Yavapai county was named after the Yavapai Indians, who are fortunate to have an ideal cli(Continued on Page 30)